Electrostatic generator and motor

Claim 2

Apparatus for electrostatically generating power by converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, comprising: (a) a container for fluid; (b) two variable capacitors formed in the container, said capacitors each having a separate conductor and sharing a common dielectric member and a common movable conductor, said common conductor is separated from the separate conductors by the dielectric member, moves between the separate conductors in response to mechanical motion, and thereby inversely alternates the capacitance between the two variable capacitors; (c) an output power increasing, electrically resistive fluid held within the container and in contact with the common conductor and the common dielectric member; said fluid having a breakdown voltage substantially greater than atmospheric air; (d) circuit means connected to the common conductor and the separate conductors for transferring charge between the variable capacitors and having two output junctions for transmitting electrostatically generated power.

Claim 3

An apparatus as in claim 1 in which the fluid has a breakdown voltage of at least 1,000 volts per mil.

Claim 4

Apparatus for electrostatically generating power by converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, comprising: (a) a container for fluid; (b) two variable capacitors formed in the container, said capacitors each having a separate conductor and sharing a common dielectric member and a common movable conductor, said common conductor is separated from the separate conductors by the dielectric member, moves between the separate conductors in response to mechanical motion, and thereby inversely alternates the capacitance between the two variable capacitors; (c) a capacitor breakdown voltage increasing fluid held within the container and in contact with the common conductor and the common dielectric member, said fluid having a breakdown voltage substantially greater than atmospheric air and resistivity of greater than 10 12 ohm- centimeters; and (d) circuit means connected to the common conductor and the separate conductors for transferring charge between the variable capacitors and having two output junctions for transmitting electrostatically generated power.

Claim 5

Apparatus for electrostatically generating power by converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, comprising: (a) a container for fluid; (b) two variable capacitors formed in the container, said capacitors each having a separate conductor and sharing a common dielectric member and a common movable conductor, said common conductor is separated from the separate conductors by the dielectric member, moves between the separate conductors in response to mechanical motion, and thereby inversely alternates the capacitance between the two variable capacitors; (c) a capacitor breakdown voltage increasing fluid held within the container and in contact with the common conductor and the common dielectric member, said fluid having a breakdown voltage substantially greater than atmospheric air and resistivity of greater than 10 12 ohm- centimeters; and (d) circuit means connected to the common conductor and the separate conductors for transferring charge between the variable capacitors and having two output junctions for transmitting electrostatically generated power.

Claim 6

An apparatus as in claim 3 in which the breakdown voltage increasing fluid has a breakdown voltage of at least 1,000 V/mil.

Claim 7

An apparatus as in claim 3 in which the breakdown voltage increasing fluid is transformer oil.

Claim 8

An apparatus as in claim 3 in which the breakdown voltage increasing fluid is Dimethypolysiloxane.

Claim 9

An apparatus as in claim 3 in which the breakdown voltage increasing fluid is Freon.

Claim 10

An apparatus as in claim 3 in which the breakdown voltage increasing fluid is helium.

Claim 11

An apparatus as in claim 3 in which the common conductor is an electrically conductive liquid connected to the circuit means.

Claim 12

An apparatus as in claim 3 in which the common conductor is a drop of mercury.

Claim 13

An apparatus as in claim 3 in which means for pre-charging the variable capacitors is connected to the circuit means.

Claim 14

An apparatus as in claim 3 in which means for discharging the variable capacitors is connected to the circuit means.

Claim 15

Apparatus for electrostatically generating power by converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, comprising: (a) a container for fluid; (b) two variable capacitors formed in the container, said capacitors each having a separate conductor and sharing a common dielectric member and a common movable conductor, said common conductor is separated from the separate conductors by the dielectric member, moves between the separate conductors in response to mechanical motion, and thereby inversely alternates the capacitance between the two variable capacitors; (c) a triboelectric charge generating fluid held within the container and in contact with the common conductor and the common dielectric member, said fluid in combination with the movable conductor generates sufficient charge to bias the variable capacitors, said fluid also has a resistivity substantially greater than atmospheric air; and p1 (d) circuit means connected to the common conductor and the separate conductors for transferring charge between the variable capacitors and having two output junctions for transmitting electrostatically generated power.

Claim 16

Apparatus for electrostatically generating power by converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, comprising: (a) a container for fluid; (b) two variable capacitors formed in the container, said capacitors each having a separate conductor and sharing a common dielectric member and a common movable conductor, said common conductor is separated from the separate conductors by the dielectric member, moves between the separate conductors in response to mechanical motion, and thereby inversely alternates the capacitance between the two variable capacitors; (c) a triboelectric charge generating fluid held within the container and in contact with the common conductor and the common dielectric member, said fluid in combination with the movable conductor generates sufficient charge to bias the variable capacitors, said fluid also has a resistivity substantially greater than atmospheric air; and p1 (d) circuit means connected to the common conductor and the separate conductors for transferring charge between the variable capacitors and having two output junctions for transmitting electrostatically generated power.

Claim 17

An apparatus as in claim 13 in which the charge generating fluid has a resistivity of at least 10 15 ohm-cms and a viscosity of less than 600 centistokes.

Claim 18

An apparatus as in claim 13 in which the charge generating fluid is Dimethylpolysiloxane.

Claim 19

An apparatus as in claim 13 in which the common movable conductor is an electrically conductive liquid connected to the circuit means.

Claim 20

An apparatus as in claim 13 in which the common conductor is a drop of mercury.

Claim 21

An apparatus as in claim 13 in which means for pre-charging the variable capacitors is connected to the circuit means.

Claim 22

An apparatus as in claim 13 in which means for discharging the variable capacitors is connected to the circuit means.

Claim 23

Apparatus for charging an electrical energy storage means by converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, comprising: (a) an electrical energy storage means chargeable by passing a charging current therethrough; (b) first and second diode means connected across said energy storage means; (c) third and fourth diode means connected across an energy source, said first and second diode means being connected in parallel with said third and fourth diode means and all of said beforementioned diode means being forward biased with respect to the charging current; (d) two variable capacitors each having a separate conductor and sharing a common dielectric member and a common movable conductor, one separate conductor being connected between the first and second diode means and the other separate conductor being connected between the third and fourth diode means, said common conductor is separated from the separate conductors by the dielectric member, moves between the separate conductors in response to mechanical motion, and thereby inversely alternates the capacitance between the two variable capacitors; and (e) an output power increasing, electrically resistive fluid held within the two variable capacitors and in contact with the common conductor and the common dielectric member, said fluid having a resistivity substantially greater than atmospheric air.

Claim 24

Apparatus for charging an electrical energy storage means by converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, comprising: (a) an electrical energy storage means chargeable by passing a charging current therethrough; (b) first and second diode means connected across said energy storage means; (c) third and fourth diode means connected across an energy source, said first and second diode means being connected in parallel with said third and fourth diode means and all of said beforementioned diode means being forward biased with respect to the charging current; (d) two variable capacitors each having a separate conductor and sharing a common dielectric member and a common movable conductor, one separate conductor being connected between the first and second diode means and the other separate conductor being connected between the third and fourth diode means, said common conductor is separated from the separate conductors by the dielectric member, moves between the separate conductors in response to mechanical motion, and thereby inversely alternates the capacitance between the two variable capacitors; and (e) an output power increasing, electrically resistive fluid held within the two variable capacitors and in contact with the common conductor and the common dielectric member, said fluid having a resistivity substantially greater than atmospheric air.

Claim 25

An apparatus as in claim 20 in which the fluid is a capacitor breakdown voltage increasing fluid.

Claim 26

An apparatus as in claim 20 in which the fluid is a triboelectric charge generating fluid.

Claim 27

An apparatus as in claim 20 in which the electrical energy storage means is a rechargeable DC energy source.

Claim 28

An apparatus as in claim 20 in which the electrical energy storage means is a battery.

Claim 29

An apparatus as in claim 20 in which the electrical energy storage means is a capacitor that can be charged-up by the variable capacitors and can be discharged into a load.

Claim 30

An apparatus as in claim 20 in which the electrical energy storage means is a fly-wheel rotated by a DC motor.

Claim 31

An apparatus as in claim 20 in which the electrical energy storage means is a power distribution system.

Claim 32

Method for electrostatically generating power by converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, comprising the steps of: (a) triboelectrically charging first and second variable capacitors with a quantity of electrical charge; (b) generating an electrostatic force field in the first capacitor; (c) moving a body against the electrostatic force field in the first capacitor so that charge is transferred through a circuit from the first capacitor to the second capacitor; (d) generating an electrostatic force field in the second capacitor; and (e) moving the body against the electrostatic force field in the second capacitor so that charge is transferred from the second capacitor back to the first capacitor through the circuit, whereby said transfer of charge between the variable capacitors is the electrostatically generated power.

Claim 33

Method for electrostatically generating power by converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, comprising the steps of: (a) triboelectrically charging first and second variable capacitors with a quantity of electrical charge; (b) generating an electrostatic force field in the first capacitor; (c) moving a body against the electrostatic force field in the first capacitor so that charge is transferred through a circuit from the first capacitor to the second capacitor; (d) generating an electrostatic force field in the second capacitor; and (e) moving the body against the electrostatic force field in the second capacitor so that charge is transferred from the second capacitor back to the first capacitor through the circuit, whereby said transfer of charge between the variable capacitors is the electrostatically generated power.

Claim 34

A method as in claim 28 in which the first and second variable capacitors are triboelectrically charged by relative motion between a dielectric material, the moving body, and a fluid in contact with both.